Floor or ceiling plate



Patented Feb. 7, 1922.

" INVENTOR.

/4 TTORNE Y.

Un tas stares PATENT osrrce.

HARRY A. VANDERBROU K, OF NEIV BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF 01VE-HALF TO B. I). HE'YMANN, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT. i

rtooaoa CEILING PLATE.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that HARRY A. VANDnnnRoUK, a citizen of the United States,residing at New Britain, in the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flooror Ceiling Plates, of which the, followlng'ls a specification. I

This invention relates to floor or ceil ng plates, among the objects ofthe invention being the provision of an article which 1s capable ofexceedingly inexpens1veconstruction, which possesses great strength andwhich comprises but a small number of parts, generally only three.

In the drawing accompanying and forming part of the presentspecification I have shown in detail one of the several forms ofembodiment of the invention which to enable those skilled in the art topractice the same will be set forth fully in the following description.Obviously I am not restricted to this disclosure. I may depart therefrom1n several respects within the scope of the invention defined by theclaim following said description.

Referring to said drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective vlew of a floor or ceiling plate comprisingthe invention and showing a way of using it.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same showlng a pipe in cross sectionand one of the members of the plate as opened by dotted lines.

Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing a wayof using the article.

Fig. 4: is a perspective view of the forward portion of the ring, thesections beingopen.

Like characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

These floor or ceiling plates are usually fitted to steam or waterpipes, for finishing purposes. They encircle the pipe adjacent theceiling or floor and customarily bear against one of the latter. In Fig.1 I have shown a part of a floor 2 through which the pipe 3 extends.This pipe may be elther the supply, or return pipe of a rad ator, notshown, or it may be any other desired plpe, the plate shown in saidfigure being denoted in a general way by 4:. Said plate 4: as shown iscircular and desirably comprises two semi-circular sections as 5 and 6which are shown in Fig. 1 as closed about the pipe Specification ofLetters Patent. Patent d F b 7 1922 Application filed February 2, 1921.Serial no. 441,805. i

3. The full lines in Fig. 2, show the plate as shown the flange 7. Theyare provided along their inner edge with a flange 8 both sets of flangesbeing desirably integral with the respective'sections 5 and 6. The innerflanges 8 have at their back ends the lips 9 and 10 which extendlaterally of the respective semi-circular sections and which as will beclear are integral with the respective flanges 8. When the plate isclosed, the lips or lugs 9 and 10 impinge or abut against each other asshown best by full lines in Fig. 2. The lip 9 is shown as having an armor projection integral therewith while the lip 10 has integral with it asomewhat similar arm or projection 11 the two arms being practicallyflat and superimposed. The arms extend rearwardly or outwardly from therespective lips diagonally of the respective sections and are pivotedtogether in some suitable way the rivet 13 which is generaly hollowanswering in this particular although some other form of pivot may beprovided. This permits the sections of the plate to be relatively openedand closed. I should remark at this time that the sections of the plateare desirably made from sheet metal so as to secure a certain and arequisite amount of resiliency at proper points.

The forward end of the flange 8 has at its forward end the L-shapedprojection '14 constituting a suitable latching member, the latching oroperative portion being denoted by 15 and extending beyond the forwardor free end of said section 5 as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The flange 8of the section 6 is shown as having at its forward end and integraltherewith the keeper 16 shown as a lateral flange and the upper edgeportion of which has a notch 17.

It will be assumed that the plate is open as shown by Fig. 4:. As thesections 5 and 6 approach the free end of the latch 15 en the keeperflange 16 the latching portion will be snapped back of the keeper flange16 to maintain the ring closed. It can be opened by reversing thedescribed action.

The flanges 8 about centrally thereof are cutaway or concaved as at 19and the butts of the forked springs 20 are integrally connected with thelow portions of the recesses 19. These springs 20 are integral with therespective sections 5 and 6 being formed in one piece with therespective flanges thereof. They can be bent or flexed for adjustabilityat their points of union with the respective flanges so as to vary thespan of the forked spring as shown by full and dotted lines in Fig. 3.The free ends of the branches of the forked springs are somewhatenlarged as shown at 21, these enlarged portions engaging the surfacesof a pipe so that when two springs are present which is the desirablebut not essential relation, the pipe will be engaged at four places. Itwill be evident that the shanks of the two Y formed springs are rigidwith the respective sections of the plate, and the shanks arepractically perpendicular to the planes of the sections.

lVha-t I claim is:

A floor or ceiling plate comprising a plurailty of semi-annular sectionspivotally connected together and opposed springs of Y form, the butts ofthe shanks of the springs being rigid with the respective sections andthe shanks extending approximately perpendicularly from the sections,the heads or free ends of the springs being free and being of acompound-curvature, the central portions of the heads being concaved andthe ends being convex to bear against the surface of a part surroundedby the plate, the latter having means for preventing the said sectionsbeing accidentally opened.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HARRY A. VANDERBROUK; Witnesses GEORGE L. VANNAIs, HEATH SUTHERL-AND.

